O'Neill holding out hope for the transfer window

Sunderland manager, Martin O'Neill will be using the transfer window to its fullest according to football365.com.  When talking about the transfer window he said,  "we will certainly have a look at it."  The Black Cats are in the middle of a run which has seen them win only two of their last ten games and drop down to 17th, one place above the relegation zone. 

O'Neill spent heavily during the summer splashing £22 million on Adam Johnson and Stephen Fletcher.  Fletcher started well but has faded of late and Johnson is still struggling to recapture his best form.  O'Neill's problems are slightly more pressing in other areas of the field. His captain Lee Catermole and central defender John O'Shea are out injured and therefore most urgent may be to look for an experienced defence-minded player to sure things up.

At this time of year when fixtures and the snow are coming thick and fast you hope for a lucky break or two but with injuries and an unpleasant set of fixtures to come there is no such luck for O'Neill.  Between now and the new year Sunderland face Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham.  Martin must really have been a naughty boy for Santa to bring him those fixtures; head down until the new year and hope for better in January.

Peter Stickney

Follow @peterstickney